Borders MP John Lamont and MSP Rachael Hamilton have hailed continued UK Government support for local businesses.
Both Borders politicians highlighted new figures from the UK Treasury showing the support given to businesses to help them through the pandemic, in the form of Bounce Back loans and Coronavirus Business Interruption Loans.
Across Scotland, the Treasury gave out £2.9 billion in loans with 79,000 businesses benefitting, including over 76,000 bounce back loans and more than 3,300 business interruption loans.
The self-employed across Scotland have also benefited from UK Government financial support, with 126,000 individuals receiving grants through the self-employed income support scheme.
Across the Borders alone, 1,571 Bounce Back loans were distributed to a total of £44,082,161 with a further 65 Coronavirus Business Interruption Loans received by businesses to a value of £11,776,685.
With over £55 million of support, both John Lamont and Rachael Hamilton say it is the latest example of the UK Conservative Government and Chancellor Rishi Sunak stepping up to protect jobs and businesses across Scotland and are calling on the SNP Government to lay out their plans.
Rachael Hamilton MSP said:
“Hundreds of businesses have been supported through this pandemic in the Borders, thanks to the UK Conservative Government.
“They have shown their plan to protect jobs and livelihoods across Scotland.
“Businesses have been left in the dark by the SNP’s latest round of restrictions, with little prior warning.
“The massive economic interventions in the form of loans, grants and the furlough scheme have helped greatly in reducing the worst of the impact on our local economy.
“We know the SNP have been slow to act in protecting jobs and helping retrain and reskill.
“Now, we must see action from the SNP Government, as many are asking where their support is for the Borders.”
John Lamont MP said:
“The support for businesses across the Borders from the UK Government is hugely welcome.
“We have seen the broad shoulders of the United Kingdom support Scotland to the tune of £10 billion throughout the pandemic.
“It once again shows how the Chancellor Rishi Sunak has stepped up and supported jobs and livelihoods right across Scotland, including in the Borders.
“We need to see the SNP to now deliver and ensure every part of Scotland is included in an economic recovery plan.
“We have yet to see any meaningful detail from them to date”.
